CLSC: "A musical, magical, resilient volume from one of our most celebrated and essential Native American voices: In these poems, the joys and strugglCLSC: "A musical, magical, resilient volume from one of our most celebrated and essential Native American voices: In these poems, the joys and struggles of the everyday are played against the grinding politics of being human. Called a "magician and a master" (San Francisco Chronicle), Joy Harjo is at the top of her form."...more

A fictional version of the book the author was unable to get published as non-fiction. In a program with the author today at Smith Library in ChautauqA fictional version of the book the author was unable to get published as non-fiction. In a program with the author today at Smith Library in Chautauqua NY, the author spoke a bit and then read the prologue. ...more

Based on an incident in the life of anthropologist Margaret Mead and two of her colleagues, this fictionalization is indicative of life as an anthropoBased on an incident in the life of anthropologist Margaret Mead and two of her colleagues, this fictionalization is indicative of life as an anthropologist in the relatively new field of study of the South Pacific, specifically Papua New Guinea, in the 1930s. Nell, the Margaret character is very sympathetically drawn and her ability to observe and capture the feel of the society is superb. Her husband, though, also an anthropologist, seems only out for personal gain and his desire to gain the upper hand by putting Nell down and jealously disparaging her work.

In a book discussion, the theme of mirror vs. window was explored, and how much is a society changed by an intruding observer. Does any analysis tell us more about the observer or the observed? The tension between the married couple and another anthropologist, Andy, made the story all the more interesting but emotionally devastating.

I was relieved to learn that the ending of the book was totally fiction, and not the reality of Margaret Mead's life; looking forward to reading more books by Lily King....more